Killer mum ‘saw no way out’ of kids’ pain

A mother who suffocated her three disabled children before trying to kill herself because she saw no "way out of their joint suffering" will not face trial for their murder.

Tania Clarence, aged 42, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Olivia, 4, and 3-year-old twins Ben and Max by diminished responsibility, but denied murder.

At a hearing at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Sweeney accepted her plea so she will no longer face trial in the New Year.

Zoe Johnson, prosecuting, told the court that in light of medical reports, the Crown Prosecution Service accepted that Clarence was suffering from a “major depressive episode” at the time of the killings that amounted to an “abnormality of mind”.

“It is clear on the evidence Mrs Clarence killed her three children because she wanted to end their suffering and at the time she committed the act she could not see any alternative or any other way out of their joint suffering.”

However, Clarence previously held the firm belief that the quality of her children’s lives was more important than their longevity — which was “entirely understandable”, she said.

Clarence, who was not in court, will be sentenced on November 14 when she is likely to face a hospital order.

Jim Sturman, defending, said a hospital order would be a “just and compassionate” sentence.

Clarence left three notes before allegedly smothering the children, who all had type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a condition which affects muscle strength.

Such children have weakness in their muscles which means they cannot stand unaided, may have difficulty with other movements, and are vulnerable to respiratory infections.